Editor’s note: This article was updated on Oct. 5. Currently Tricare Prime is in the process of re-negotiating its contract with the Davis County Health Department for being a preferred provider for providing preventive health services such as immunizations.
What does this mean for Tricare Prime members? If Tricare Prime members utilize the Davis County Health Department for an insurance-billed immunization, they will receive a bill in the mail from the Davis County Health Department due to Tricare not currently recognizing the health department as a preferred provider.
Tricare Prime members can utilize the 75th Medical Group immunization clinic for the flu shot once sufficient supplies become available, or they can utilize an off-base network pharmacy listed on the Tricare “Find a pharmacy” website.
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — Base officials are partnering with the Davis County Health Department to make it easier for Hill’s personnel to receive the flu vaccine this year.
The flu shot will not be available to all Tricare beneficiaries at the 75th Medical Group until adequate vaccination supplies are received, but the DCHD will be on base offering no-out-of-pocket-cost influenza, Tdap, and pneumonia vaccinations to Tricare dependents and retirees, as well as federal service and contract employees.
The U.S. and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere are bracing for another potentially severe flu season. The 2017-2018 flu season became one of the most severe seasons on record, excluding pandemics, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In general, flu season in the U.S. begins in October and tapers off in May. In the Southern Hemisphere, flu season is well under way. Typically, the U.S. sees influenza strains similar to those circulating in the Southern Hemisphere; however, circulating flu viruses can mutate and change throughout the year, making it easier for the virus to infect people who have not been vaccinated.
Public Health officials say this year, everyone 6 months of age and older should receive the flu vaccine by the end of October.
The 75th Medical Group Immunization Clinic will also soon focus their efforts on vaccinating the active duty population. Active duty members are currently “due” for the influenza vaccine; however, members will not affect unit Individual Medical Readiness rates until Jan. 1, 2019. The Department of Defense goal is to vaccinate 90 percent of the active-duty population by Dec. 15, 2018.
The vaccine has been adjusted for the approaching flu season in hopes of targeting the strains that may circulate this year. The nasal spray flu mist vaccines have also been reformulated and are now a recommended option.
The nasal spray is available on-base only at the DCHD flu clinics and is approved for non-pregnant individuals ages 2-49.
In addition, the DCHD will also offer the shingles vaccine only at the Commissary clinics for those individuals age 50 to 65 years of age.
Members can bring their health insurance cards or military dependent/retiree identification to one of the 20 scheduled on-base clinics:
Oct. 18, 12-5 p.m., Warrior Gym Foyer
Oct. 23, 8-11 a.m., Building 100F Rm 20 EMXG-OB Conf. Rm
Oct. 24, 7:30-11 a.m., Building 1515 Exec. Conf. Room
Oct. 25, 12-3 p.m., building 674, break room
Oct. 26, 12-3p.m., Commissary foyer
Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Building 238 (West Side)
Nov. 6, 7:30-11 a.m., BX foyer
Nov. 7, 12-5 p.m., Warrior gym foyer
Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Landing (fall expo)
Below is an alphabetical list of all the Health Insurance agencies DCHD is authorized to bill:
AARP – HMO
AARP Medicare Complete – flu and pneumonia only
Altius (Aetna POS II)
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Definity – HMO
Deseret Mutual Benefits (DMBA)
Deseret Choice
Deseret Alliance – HMO
Educators Mutual
GEHA
Health Choice Utah – Medicaid
Humana – PPO
Humana X – only for commercial mailhandlers
Med Advantage – HMO
Medicare
RailRoad Medicare
Medicaid
Molina – Medicaid and Medicare only
PEHP
Selecthealth, Selectmed, Selectvalue
Sterling – HMO
Tricare
UMR
United Health
University Health HealthyU – Medicaid Only
UPREHS – HMO
You can print out the DCHD required screening form to bring with you to your clinic, click here.
For more information about the scheduled flu clinics offered by the DCHD, please contact Douglas Pierson, Public Health Flight Manager, at 801-586-9768.
